Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale736

Foundation, whom I thank for the kind words expressed on your behalf. I am

grateful to him for informing me how your work has been undertaken during

the symposium. You have analyzed without bias the events of history and

concerned yourselves only with seeking the truth. I also greet those accom-

panying you on this visit, as well as your family members and loved ones

at home.

The focus of your study has been the person and the tireless pastoral and

humanitarian work of Pius XII, Pastor Angelicus. Fifty years have passed

since his pious death here at Castel Gandolfo early on the ninth of October

1958, after a debilitating disease. This anniversary provides an important

opportunity to deepen our knowledge of him, to meditate on his rich teaching

and to analyze thoroughly his activities. So much has been written and said

of him during these last five decades and not all of the genuine facets of his

diverse pastoral activity have been examined in a just light. The aim of your

symposium has been precisely to address some of these deficiencies, conduct-

ing a careful and documented examination of many of his interventions,

especially those in favour of the Jews who in those years were being targeted

all over Europe, in accordance with the criminal plan of those who wanted to

eliminate them from the face of the earth. When one draws close to this noble

Pope, free from ideological prejudices, in addition to being struck by his lofty

spiritual and human character one is also captivated by the example of his

life and the extraordinary richness of his teaching. One can also come to

appreciate the human wisdom and pastoral intensity which guided him in

his long years of ministry, especially in providing organized assistance to the

Jewish people.

Thanks to the vast quantity of documented material which you have

gathered, supported by many authoritative testimonies, your symposium

offers to the public forum the possibility of knowing more fully what Pius

XII achieved for the Jews persecuted by the Nazi and Fascist regimes. One

understands, then, that wherever possible he spared no effort in intervening

in their favour either directly or through instructions given to other indivi-

duals or to institutions of the Catholic Church. In the proceedings of your

convention you have also drawn attention to his many interventions, made

secretly and silently, precisely because, given the concrete situation of that

difficult historical moment, only in this way was it possible to avoid the

worst and save the greatest number of Jews.